The Fifteen Minute Novel is an attempt to take a single prompt and use the last sentence written each day as a start for the next day. This year I had several prompts circling around a similar story, so I have combined them. However, the story starts the same way each day, with the last line from the day before and a timer set for fifteen minutes. The hope is to end up with a complete, if very rough draft by the end of the year. Some stories are better than others, but I always learn a whole lot about my own writing when I do this so for me it is not only a nice way to work out a story, but it is a tool for helping my writing get better. And so, we continue this story for 2024 with…
Day 244: “Am I going to be fired because of problems?” Sophie asked, figuring she might as well be direct about it.
“Am I going to be fired because of problems?” Sophie asked, figuring she might as well be direct about it. Both Sean and Elizabeth blinked at her.
“Of course not,” Sean replied. He sighed. “We, the company that is, has …” He frowned as though uncertain how to complete the sentence. Elizabeht shook her head.
“Looked the other way when it comes to some of Kristen’s transgressions and in the past and let her family make monetary restitution,” Elizabeth said. “This past time in the parking lot the restitution came with a dismissal as well.”
“Past transgressions,” Sophie repeated. “Like Ryan’s wife’s tires getting slashed?”
“And those Joke letters,” Elizabeth said. Her tone suggested there was nothing funny in the joke.
“Joke letters?” Sophie asked.
“When opened they catch fire,” Elizabeth said. “Kristen has a friend who is a chemist of sorts.”
“And she wasn’t fired for that?” Sophie asked. “She just paid a fine and kept working there?”
“Yes,” Ryan admitted. He sighed heavily. “I was always against it and suggested letting her go a while back, but I was overruled by the board.”
“And you did suggest that she should be watched when she was fired in case she decided on retribution,” Elizabeth said.
Ryan nodded glumly. “I didn’t expect this kind of escalation though. No one did.” He took a deep breathe and let it out in a huff. “I also thought she’d do something against the company and not decide that you, or any of the employees would become a target and the board…” He ran a hand through his hair. “The board thought that since she only slightly grumbled when asked to pay the fine before settling down for a while the same would apply here.”
“Right,” Sophie said. She frowned. She wondered how anyone could continue to get away with such things. “Her family must be really wealthy,” she finally said. “I can’t see her getting away with this sort of thing otherwise.”
“Wealthy and well connected,” Elizabeth said.
“I’ve already let the board know of the problems,” Sean said. “Although I didn’t quite expect this,” he said looking around Sophie’s still ruined apartment. “We are working with the police and have turned over our entire file on Kristen. Hopefully that will settle things. There will be restitution of some sort for the damage, both to the building and to your things.”
“That would be nice,” Sophie said. “Especially for the building. I’d hate to be asked to move because of this.”
Sean nodded. “Right. We have also talked to the board and we are giving you the rest of the week off to hopefully deal with this.” He looked around. “Hopefully the file will help the police deal with everything else.”
“That would be nice,” Sophie said. “Thank you for the time off.”
Ten til Midnight 